Curtain roller



H. w. SHONNARD I CURTAIN ROLLER Filed June 1925" '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY p 1929- H. w. SHONNARD CURTAIN ROLLER Filed June 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illl 7 a \lnmlli%.....m

INVENTOR v BYz-JWaW ATTORNEY I Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES AT NroFFICE HAROLD W. SHONNABD, OF MONTCLAI,R, NEW JERSEY, AS SIG-NOR IEO ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CURTAIN ROLLER Application filed June 4,

The present invention relates to an improved form of spring roller for shades and curtains, and more particularly to a device of this kind specially adapted for use in con nection with the automatic flexible guard for elevator doors, shown described and claimed in my pending application for patent, Serial Number 16,214, filed March 17th, 1925.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a construction for the purpose mentioned which shall be as simple as pos sible, and be easily assembled, adjusted and taken apart by anyone without using special tools. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figural is a iew partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of my improved roller as used in connection with elevator doors, the same being shortened materially to bringitwithin the limits of the sheet, Figure 2 is an end view of the roller and shaft removed from their supports, Figure 3 is a view in elevation, partly broken away of one end of the fixed shaft together with a bearing support or end collar and spring and sleeve, Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 in Figure 1, Figure 5 is a similar View on the line 55 in Figure 1, Figure 6 is a view inplan of one end collar and spring as seen at right angles to the aspect of Figure 3 and Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View on the line 7-7 in Figure 1.

In the preferred form herein shown, my improved roller forms part of a unitary structure in which the roller and its support are adapted to be applied to or removed from a door or window together. Accordingly I shall describe the invention as so embodied, although some features herein claimed arefnot necessarily used in a complete unitary struoture of this kind.

It is one of the advantages of my inventionthat the rollerproper, spring and shaft are formed of-few pieces whichare easily put together, taken apart and adjusted by unskilled persons.

As shown in Figure 1 the roller proper is 1925. Serial no. 34,756,

supported by and turns upon a fixed central shaft 10 preferablytubular in form. t j

The curtain 11 rolls up on a cylindricalshell 12 made of a thin metal sheet whose meeting edges are turned inward to form a channel .or rib 13 (see Figure4). This channel not only serves to fasten the-edge of the curtain 11, as shown-in Figure 4, but also presents a point of engagement, for the two end collars. Moreover a cylinder'thus constructed has a certain amount of elasticity, so that, when the end collars are introduced they can be givena tight lasting fit without having to resort to expense in machining them.

Atthe spring end of .the roller, the collar 14 is fitted tightly into the end of the cylinder 12, the squared end of which abuts against a flange or shoulder 15,. The bent-in channel or rib 13 is snugly accommodated in the notch 16 on one side. of the collar 14. A removable ball-bearing fitting 17 of any well known character is accommodated in a cavity outside of the collar 14, and this ball-bearing fits one end of the shaft 10. i

The opposite end of the cylinder or shell 12 is fitted with a collar 18 and ball-bearing fitting 19, similar to the collar 14 and fitting 17, save for certain details clearly shown in Figure 1 and hereinafter described,

Surrounding the shaft 10 and abutting against the inner face ofthe collar 14 is a sleeve 20, around which is [coiled the spring 21 by which thecurtain is coiled upontho cylinder 12.- The turn of the spring next the collar 14 is threaded through the heads of two cotter pins 22, 23, diametrically placed, andthese cotter pins pass through portions of the collar 14 into cavities 24, 25, in which they are bent open as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This forms a firmconnection for the end of the spring with the collar making it possible at the same time to remove the spring from the collar with ease whenever desired.

The opposite end of the spring 21, together with the sleeve 20, is fixed to the shaft 10 by means of a cotter pin 26, through which the hooked end of the spring is passed (see F g. 1) This cotter pin passes through the sleeve and shaft and is bent apart on the opposite side, as shown in Figure 7.

The initial winding tension on the spring is adjusted and maintained preparatory to assembling by means of the pivoted pawl 27 on the inner face of the collar 18, which drops into an opening 28 in the shaft 10, and is so shaped as to permit turning of the roller shell only against the tension of the spring (see Figures 1 and 4). This tension is applied with the curtain fully rolled up on the cylinder 12. When the roller isv set up vertically, the unrolling of the curtain against the spring tension causes the pawl 27 to ride up on the outside of the shaft 10, and thereafter the roller can be revolved freely in either direction, always preserving the initial spring tension, however, when the curtain is fully rolled up. The roller parts having been assembled with the supporting shaft as above described, the. shaft is secured against withdrawal in either direction in the following manner.

Just outside of the collar 14a cotter pin 29 is passed through transverse openings in the shaft 10 until it protrudes about equally on both sides (see Figures 1 and 3). The cotter pin is inserted in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, and, by means of a pointed instrument the two halves of the pin are bent apart within the tubular shaft 10 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. This secures the cotter pin in place, and it can then be twisted through an angle of ninety degrees to assume the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6, when it is ready to assist in the fixed mounting of the shaft 10 as hereinafter described.

Just outside of the collar 18 at the opposite end, another cotter pin 30 is used in a similar manner in connection with the shaft 10, and for the same purpose as the pin 29. The preferred unitary mounting for the combined roller and shaft preferably comprises a longitudinal bar 31 for attaching the whole to a door or gate or the like, and at the opposite extremities of this bar are removably fixed the parallel brackets '32 and 33. The inner faces of these brackets are provided with central bosses 34, 35, which are bored centrally in mutual alignment to receive the two extremities of the shaft 10, as shown. In order to prevent the shaft from revolving, both bosses are slotted transversely as clearly shown in Figure 5 at 36, and the cotter pins 29 and 30 fit snugly into these slots so as to prevent revolution.

of the shaft 10 in either direction.

In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the roller, the bosses 34 and 35 are made the roller from the shell 12 by removing the cotter pin next it from the central shaft, letting the free end of the shaft drop through the collar, and then using the end of the shaft as a ram to push out the collar.

WVhat I claim is 1. A curtain roller of the type described comprising a cylindrical shell composed of thin metal bent inward to form a longitudinal channel, and collars inserted in the ends ofsaid shell having channel. 7

2. A curtain roller of the general type described comprising a fixed shaft, a cylindrical shell, a collar mounted revolubly on the shaft and fitting said shell, said collar having a cavity on its outer face, a spring fixed at one end to said shaft and surrounding the same, and a pin having a head looped around said spring, said pin extending through a portion of said collar and turned against the bottom of said cavity.

3. A curtain roller of the generaltype described comprising a fixed shaft, a sleeve thereon, a cylindrical shell revolubly mounted on said shaft, a helical spring surroundgrooves for receiving said ing said sleeve and a pin passing through said sleeve and shaft, said pin being bent against said sleeve at one'end, and having an eye at its opposite end.

4. A curtain roller of the general type described comprising a central tubular shaft, a cylindrical shell revolubly mounted thereon, and a pin extending transversely through said shaft outside of said shell and expanded within the tubular shaft.

5. A curtain roller of the general type described'comprising a collar having a groove and a circular flange, and an expansible cylindrical shell having an internal rib, said shell fitting over said collar by expansion of the shell and abutting against said flange with the end of its rib in the groove in the collar.

6. A curtain roller of the general type described comprising an expansible cylindrical shell, a collar fitting in one end thereof by expansion of the shell and having a cavity in one face of the same, and a roller bearing fit- I ting occupying said cavity.

7. In a curtain roller, two brackets having internal bosses with cavities in alignment and having transverse slots, a fixed shaft fitting said cavities, a cotter pin passing through the slots in said bosses and through said shaft, and a roller revolubly mounted on said shaft.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the roller has female conical ends and the bosses on the brackets have male conical ends fitting the ends of the roller.

9. A unitary mounting for a combined roller and shaft comprising a longitudinal bar having parallel brackets attached to the opposite ends thereof, said brackets having aligned slotted bosses, a shaft mounted revolubly in said bosses, and pins passing through the ends of said shaft and lying in the slots in said bosses.

In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my signature on this 26th day of May, 1925.

HAROLD WV. SHONNARD. 

